Diaphragm device for a camera

ABSTRACT

In the disclosed diaphragm assembly, a diaphragm control ring that moves to open and close the diaphragm blades, forms several cam grooves. Each groove is capable of receiving an indicator extension. In this way the diaphragm assembly is adapted to operate with various types of cameras having different diaphragm indicator mechanisms. Each groove engages the mechanism which extends toward that groove.

Unite States Patent 1191 Takigawa 1 1 May 15, 1973 1541 DEAPHRAGM DEVICEFOR A CAMERA 3,550,519 12 1970 Lewis ..95/86 3,071,058 1/1963 Gebele v 1..95/64 D [75] lnvemo" TomssmTaklgawaiTokyoJapan 3,068,768 12 19621261115611161 a .195/64ox 3,173,350 3/1965 Steisslinger ..95/64D [731Asmgnee: Kabush'k' TOkYO' 3,461,786 8/1969 Sato ....95/64D Japan3,159,038 12/1964 Bauer ...v95/64D [22] le Dec 31 1970 2,213,742 9/1940Mihalyi .195/64D [21] APP] NO; 103,027 Primary ExaminerSamue1 S.Matthews Assistant Examiner-Monroe H. Hayes Alt -Toren 8L McGead [30]Foreign Application Priority Data Omey y Jan.9, 1970 Japan.... ..45 32551 1 ABSTRACT Jan.9,1970 Japan ..45/3256 In the disclosed diaphragmassembly, a diaphragm control ring that moves to open and close the [g2]diaphragm blades, forms Several cam grooves. Each R 64 B groove iscapable of receiving an indicator extension. 1 1e 0 earc in this way thediaphragm assembly is adapted to References Cited operate with varioustypes of cameras having different diaphragm indicator mechanisms. Eachgroove en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gages the mechanism which extendstoward that move. 2,976,791 3/1961 Larsson ..95/86 g 5 Claims, 3 DrawingFigures PAIENIEU HAY 1 5 m5 SHEET 1 0F 2 FIG] ATTOR PATENTED HAY 151573- SHEET 2 0F 2 FIG.3

This invention relates to cameras, and particularly diaphragm deviceswhich control the apertures of the lenses on the camera.

An object of this invention is to improve diaphragm I systems and renderthem more versatile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a feature of the invention, asingle plate in a diaphragm actuating mechanism forms two or .semblyinterchangeably usable with various types of cameras.

According to another feature of the invention, in a diaphragm controlsuitable for different types of cameras, a single .plate drives aplurality of diaphragm blades by means of slots that engage'pins on theblades, and a set of cam grooves is arranged so that a-pointer canengage any one of the cam grooves and transmit the rotation of the plateto any number of positions.

Other grooves on the plate respond to a drive member that rotates theplate.

The present invention is explained in detail with reference to thedrawings of an example embodying features of the invention.-

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear elevation of thediaphragm device of a camera according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is its-side elevation, and FIG. 3 is its front elevation.

FIG. 3 shows a state wherein a base plate has been removed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I In each drawing, 1 is a baseplate, 2 is an electric motor which has its rotating direction changeddepending on the polarity of the voltage impressed. Reference character2A represents an axle of the rotary electric motor 2, 3 is a screw, 4 isa mountingmember of the rotary electric motor 2, 5 is a support platehaving a support opening at its center portion, and 6 is-a cam plate.

Reference characters 6A, 6B, 6B and 6C represent cam grooves provided inthe cam plate 6. A thrust receiving member 7 is fixed to a support plate5, and forms a support for the cam plate 6 in a thrust direction. Ascrew 8 fixes the thrust receiving member 7 to the support plate 5. Anindication lever 9 has a pin 9A mounted at one end the indication lever9. A pin 9A engages a cam groove 68. An indicating pointer or needle 98extends from the other end of the indication lever 9 so that it willappear in the view window of a finder. An indication lever 9', a pin 9Aengaging the cam groove 68', and an indication needle, 98 form a partofthe diaphragm indication device used with a different kind of camera.Reference numeral 10 represents indicating lever axles 11 and IIrotatably support the indication levers 9 and 9. Cylindrical members 12and 12 are integrally mounted on the indication levers 9 and 9' androtate around the axles 11 and 11 with the indication lever 9, 9. Adiaphragm blade driving lever, 13 holds a pin at one end. The pin 13A isin an engaging relationship with the cam groove 6C of the cam plate 6,and 13B is a balancing weight fixedly provided at the other end of thelever 13. An opening 14 through which a photographing light passes,forms a diaphragm aperture. Five diaphragm blades 15 adjust thediaphragm aperture around the aperture 14. As the pins mounted on thediaphragm blades 15 engage with the holes provided on the support plate5, the diaphragm blades 15 can be rotated around the centers of saidholes. A pin 15A mounted on one end of a diaphragm blade 15, engages thecam groove 6A of the cam plate 6.

Since the device of the present invention has above mentioned structure,the rotation of the electric motor 2 causes rotation of the drivinglever 13, which in turn drives the cam plate 6 determining a prescribeddiaphragm aperture at the same time the indication device indicates thestate by virtue of the rotation of the cam plate at that time.Furthermore, the diaphragm device of the present invention is such thatplural number of indication devices can be selectively attached to thecam plate 6. Thus it becomes possible to use a diaphragm device which iscommon to various types of cameras to indicate the state of thediaphragm of such cameras. Thus the present invention helps to simplifyandfacilitate the manufacture, inspection and maintenance, etc., therebyproviding a number of advantages industrially.

The collar 10 which isintegral with the driving lever 13 is fixed to theaxle 2A of the electric motor 2 by a screw 11. The pin 13A planted onthe driving lever 13 engages the cam groove 60 of the cam plate 6, thusthe cam plate 6 is rotated by the rotation of the electric motor.Sinceapin 15A fixed on the diaphragm blade 15 engages the cam groove 6Aprovided on the cam plate 6, the group of the diaphragm blades controlsthe aperture dimension of the diaphragm through the rotation of the camplate. The state of such control is indicated in the indicating device.The base plate 1 is fixed to the member 4 by screws, and the electricmotor 2 is fixed to the member 4 by screws 3.

The support plate 5 is fixed to thebase plate 1, and diaphragm blades 15are positioned in a gap between these two plates. The base plate in thiscase is not shown in FIG. 3.

The indication lever 9, 9A, 9C may be used it is in a different kind ofcamera as shown, at 9', 9A, 9B, 9C.

What is claimed is:

I. A diaphragm assembly for cameras having diaphragm-opening indicatingmeans located at a plurality of positions, comprising mounting meansforming a path of light with the camera, a plurality of diaphragm bladesmovably mounted on said mounting means for movement into and out of thepath of light, a single diaphragm control plate coupled to said bladesand movable relative to said mounting means for moving the blades intoand out of the path of light so as to vary the diaphragm opening, saiddiaphragm control plate having a plurality of slots engageable with saidblades for moving said blades, said plate having a plurality of groovesat different locations on said plate, movement of said plate producingmovement of the grooves so that the position of the grooves correspondsand is indicative of the position of said plate, said plate having arecess for receiving driving energy that drives the plate, couplingmeans for transmitting information concerning the diaphragm opening toany one of the plurality of positions, said coupling means including atransmission member engageable with respective ones of said grooves atthe different locations on said plate, said grooves being shaped toreceive the transmission member so that said transmission member may beinterchangeably connected to any one of said grooves for transmittinginformation regarding the position of said plate to said indicatingmeans, and driving means for moving said plate in order to vary thediaphragm opening and including a drive portion engaging said recess tomove the plate and the blades.

2. A diaphragm assembly as in claim I, wherein said blades each includesa pin engageable with one of said slots and mounted on the blade so thatmovement of said plate with said slots moves said blades.

3. A diaphragm assembly as in claim 2, wherein said driving meansincludes a rotatable member in engagement with the drive portion andactuable by said camera.

4. A diaphragm assembly as in claim 1, wherein said drive driving meansincludes a rotatable member in engagement with the drive portion andactuable by said camera.

5. A diaphragm assembly suitable for use with motion picture camerasadapted for two film arrangements and having diaphragm-openingindicating means located at different positions, comprising mountingmeans forming a path of light with the camera, a plurality of diaphragmblades movably mounted on said mounting means for movement into and outof the path of light, a single diaphragm control plate coupled to saidblades and movable relative to said mounting means for moving the bladesinto and out of the path of light so as to vary the diaphragm opening,drive means for driving the plate rotatably and thereby moving theblades into and out of the path of light, and coupling means fortransmitting information concerning the diaphragm opening to any one ofthe plurality of positions, said coupling means including a transmissionmember'and a plurality of coupling portions forming parts of said plateat different locations on said plate, said coupling portions beingshaped to receive the transmission member so that said transmissionmember may be interchangeably connected to any of said portions, saidplate being movable so that said coupling portions move with said plateand the movement is indicative of the diaphragm opening, said couplingportions forming respective grooves, and said transmission membersincluding a portion engageable with said grooves, said plate including aplurality of slots engageable with said blades for moving said blades,said plate including a drive slot, said drive means further including arotatable member engaging said drive slot and engageable with the camerato be driven thereby, said plate and said blades and said mounting meansforming a flat structure, and said drive means including a motor.

1. A diaphragm assembly for cameras having diaphragm-opening indicatingmeans located at a plurality of positions, comprising mounting meansforming a path of light with the camera, a plurality of diaphragm bladesmovably mounted on said mounting means for movement into and out of thepath of light, a single diaphragm control plate coupled to said bladesand movable relative to said mounting means for moving the blades intoand out of the path of light so as to vary the diaphragm opening, saiddiaphragm control plate having a plurality of slots engageable with saidblades for moving said blades, said plate having a plurality of groovesat different locations on said plate, movement of said plate producingmovement of the grooves so that the position of the grooves correspondsand is indicative of the position of said plate, said plate having arecess for receiving driving energy that drives the plate, couplingmeans for transmitting information concerning the diaphragm opening toany one of the plurality of positions, said coupling means including atransmission member engageable with respective ones of said grooves atthe different locations on sAid plate, said grooves being shaped toreceive the transmission member so that said transmission member may beinterchangeably connected to any one of said grooves for transmittinginformation regarding the position of said plate to said indicatingmeans, and driving means for moving said plate in order to vary thediaphragm opening and including a drive portion engaging said recess tomove the plate and the blades.
 2. A diaphragm assembly as in claim 1,wherein said blades each includes a pin engageable with one of saidslots and mounted on the blade so that movement of said plate with saidslots moves said blades.
 3. A diaphragm assembly as in claim 2, whereinsaid driving means includes a rotatable member in engagement with thedrive portion and actuable by said camera.
 4. A diaphragm assembly as inclaim 1, wherein said drive driving means includes a rotatable member inengagement with the drive portion and actuable by said camera.
 5. Adiaphragm assembly suitable for use with motion picture cameras adaptedfor two film arrangements and having diaphragm-opening indicating meanslocated at different positions, comprising mounting means forming a pathof light with the camera, a plurality of diaphragm blades movablymounted on said mounting means for movement into and out of the path oflight, a single diaphragm control plate coupled to said blades andmovable relative to said mounting means for moving the blades into andout of the path of light so as to vary the diaphragm opening, drivemeans for driving the plate rotatably and thereby moving the blades intoand out of the path of light, and coupling means for transmittinginformation concerning the diaphragm opening to any one of the pluralityof positions, said coupling means including a transmission member and aplurality of coupling portions forming parts of said plate at differentlocations on said plate, said coupling portions being shaped to receivethe transmission member so that said transmission member may beinterchangeably connected to any of said portions, said plate beingmovable so that said coupling portions move with said plate and themovement is indicative of the diaphragm opening, said coupling portionsforming respective grooves, and said transmission members including aportion engageable with said grooves, said plate including a pluralityof slots engageable with said blades for moving said blades, said plateincluding a drive slot, said drive means further including a rotatablemember engaging said drive slot and engageable with the camera to bedriven thereby, said plate and said blades and said mounting meansforming a flat structure, and said drive means including a motor.